Wheel support



Jan. 24, 1933. E. H. COQUILLE WHEEL SUPPORT Filed July 16, 193l 2 Sheats-She 1? am aim $4 Jan. 24, 1933. E. H. COQUILLE "1,895,024

WHEEL SUPPORT Filed July 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 24, 1933 warren STATES PATENT GFFICE EMILE.H ENRI COQUILLE, 0F PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO SOCIETE ANONYME DES USINES CHAUSSON, OF ASNIERES, SEINE, FRANCE WHEEL sorrow Application filed July 16, 1931, Serial No.

The object of my invention is a tilting support for motor car spare wheels, which may be combined with a chest, the door of which tilts with said support.

One of the chief characteristics of my invention consists in that said support is jointed, at two points suitably distant from each other, to levers or guides which cause said joints to move along diflerent fixed paths in such manner that, near the closed position of the chest, the position of the center of gravity of the device with regard to its instantaneous center of rotation may be such that the torque due to gravity will tend to bring the wheel into a vertical plane and to maintain it there, i. e., to close the chest when the support is integral with one door of said chest.

According toanother characteristic of my invention, the moving system is balanced by one or more springs connected to said device in such a way that, as the tilting takes place, the antagonistic force of said springs shall vary in power, in the same proportion as the torque due to gravity, when said torque acts in the direction in which the chest is opened.

Other characteristics of my invention will appear from the following description of preferred embodiments of my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a device according to my invention, in the position in whichthe chest is closed, the support being integral with a door of said chest;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same device, in the position for which the moving device is substantially in unstable equilibrium;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, the same support being shown completely tilted;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the support in the position shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of another mode of mounting the chest door;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of another arrangement for jointing the tilting support to the frame of the car.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a chest 8 and two angle plates 2, which sup port the tilting device, are fixed to a cross to arms 5.

551,238, and in France August 13, 1930.

member 1, integral with the frame of the car.

Two links 3 and 4 are pivotedly connected, at one end to angle plates 2, at the other end Said arms 5 are integral with a false hub 9 which supports the spare wheels 10 and 11. Preferably, door 7 of chest 8 will I 1 gravity. In the example shown in Figs. 1 to To this effect, springs 13 are connected 4, springs 13 are fixed on the one hand to arms 5 (or to a cross member integral with said arms) and, on the other, to levers 12 which pivot about the axis of articulation of links 4 with arms 5. Levers 12 are provided with a heel adapted to bear against a tubular brace 14, which may be fixed, say by soldering, to links 4. l

The device, according to my invention, operates as follows:

I The position of the axes of oscillation of links 3 and 4, as also the length of said links and the distance of their axes of articulation on arms 5, are so chosen that, when the tilting device is in the position which corresponds to the closing of chest 8 and during a fraction" of the course it follows when starting from the latter position, the center of gravity G of the whole tilting device is on the same side as chest 8, with respect to the vertical line which passes through the instantaneous center of rotation of said device (point at which the axes of links 3 and 4 intersect each other). As a result, in the above indicated positions of the tilting system, the very weightof the device applies door 7 against chest 8 and holds it in the closed position. Therefore, whatever may be the number and weight of the spare wheels, the tilting device, as a body, tends to close the chest and not to open it, through the action of gravity.

As the moving device is further tilted, the instantaneous center of rotation of said device is displaced, because the links rotate, through different angles, about their respective axes of oscillation. The center of gravity G of the device is also displaced, following on ascending curve GH. At a certain point, the instantaneous center of rotation and the center of. gravity Gare on the same vertical line and the device is in unstable equilibrium (as shown in Fig. 2, in which the center of gravity G of the device is at H, i. e., at the highest point'of its path GHJ) The moving device continuing its displacement towards the opened position of chest 8 the center of gravity of said devicemoves to the other side of the vertical line which passes through the instantaneous center of rotation and, therefore, the torque'due togravity accentuates that opening motion. As soon as the device is in equilibrium, the heels of brackets 12 coming in contact with bracing member 14 cause levers 12 to follow links 4 in their rotary motion. This causes an elongation of springs 13, the increasing tension of which insures the balancing'of the system in the second part of the opening motion. When the center of gravity G coincides with point J, links 4 are applied against links 3, thus stopping the whole.

' Fig. 5 shows another mode of mounting door 7 of chest 8, according to which said door 7, instead of being integral with the support, is articulated to said support through links 15. In this case, door 7 is mounted on chest Sthrough a hinge 16.

Of course, links 3 and 4, through which the support is articulated to the frame, may be replaced by anyother connecting organs such that the trajectory of the center of gravity may have, as that shown in Figs. 1 and2, a

first ascending motion. For example, in

Fig. 6, arms 5 are articulated to link 3, which is itself jointed to the frame. I Pins, or

fingers, 16, integral with said arms 5, are

adapted to move'in fixed slides 17, suitably curved.

While I have disclosed what I deem to be preferred embodiments of my device, I do not wish to be limited thereto, as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the-parts, without departing from the principle of my invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims. In particular, the disposition and form of thebalancing springs may differ from those above described.

What I claim is 1 1. A support for. motor car spare wheels comprising, in combination, means adapted .to rigidly support the spare wheels, at least vone lever integral with said means. at least one member adapted to be rigidly secured to the car frame, a plurality of links pivoted atone end to said member and at the other end to said lever, at least one spring con.- nected at one end to said lever, and means for connecting the other end of said spring to said member in such a manner that the resisting strength of said spring varies in accordance with the torque due to gravity.

2., A support for motor car spare wheels comprising, in combination, means adapted to rigidly support the spare Wheels, at least one lever integral with said means,- at least one angle plate adapted to be rigidly secured to the car frame, two links disposed one abovethe other and each pivoted at one endto said angle plate and at the other end to said lever, the center of gravity of the movable system being on the same side of the vertical plane passing throughthe instantaneous center of rotation of said system as said angle late for substantially vertical positions 0 the spare wheels, at least one spring connected at one end to. said lever,.and means for connecting the other end of said spring to said strength of said spring varies in accordance with the torque due to gravity.

'member in such a manner that the resisting 3. In combination with a support according to claim 1,, a chest and means" for connecting the door of said chest tosaid lever.

4. Incombination'with a support according to claim 2, a chest and means for connecting the door of said chest to said lever.

5. In combination with a support according to claim 2, achestand means for rigidly 55 small connecting rods for connecting the door of said chest to saidlever. V

7 A support for motor car, spare wheels comprising, in combination, means adapted to rigidly support the spare wheels, atleast one lever integral with said means, at least one angle plate adapted to be rigidly secured to the car'frame, two links disposed one above the other and each pivoted at one end to said, angle plate and, at the other end to said lever, the center of gravity of the movable system being onthe same side of the vertical plane passing through the instantaneous center of rotation of said system as said angle plate for substantially vertical positions of the spare wheels, at least one spring connected at one end to said lever, a barextending at right angles to the lower link and carried thereby,at least one bent lever pivoted to the outer end of the last mentioned link and connected to the other I the other end to said spare wheel supporting means, a pin engaged in said supporting means and guiding means provlded on said car frame adapted to guide said pin in such manner that the centre of gravity of the system formed by the spare Wheels with its supporting means is situated on the same side of the vertical plane passing through the instantaneous centre of rotation of said system as said stop member for substantially Vertical positions of the spare Wheels.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EMILE HENRI GOQUILLE. 

